Ultrasonography and fluoroscopy-guided insertion of chest ports

To evaluate the results of ultrasonography and fluoroscopy-guided percutaneous placement of internal jugular vein catheters and subcutaneous chest port system in patients with carcinoma.

The data of 1418 patients in whom the devices were implanted from 2003 to 2007 in interventional radiology unit were evaluated prospectively.

The median age was 45 years (range 23-70), 658 were women and 760 were men. Technical success in implanting the devices was 100%. No instances of major complications such as pneumothorax, hemothorax, catheter tip malposition, air embolism were seen. The overall complication rate was 5%. Overall follow-up of patients was 699 074 catheter days with the mean function time of 493 (range 130-1215) days.

With the benefit of ultrasonography and fluoroscopy guidance, chest port systems can be implanted by interventional radiologists without major insertion complications and with a higher success rate than those reported in surgical placements.